Method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus

Abstract

A method of membrane separation and membrane separation apparatus, with which not only a supply liquid can be evaluated but also the problems, such as scale, occurring on reverse osmosis membrane can be monitored in a highly straightforward fashion. There is provided a membrane separation apparatus equipped with reverse osmosis membrane module (3) so as to be adapted for feeding of a supply liquid and obtaining of a permeated liquid and a concentrated liquid, characterized by comprising a feeding-side membrane separation means (10) which includes a separation membrane (11) of which the membrane face (11a) can be monitored and guides the supply liquid so as to separate the membrane, and a concentrating-side membrane separation means (20) which includes a separation membrane (21) of which the membrane face (21a) can be monitored and guides the concentrated liquid so as to separate the membrane separation thereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a membrane separation method and a membrane separation apparatus that can monitor both a supply liquid and a concentrated liquid of a reverse osmosis membrane module.BACKGROUND ART[0002]A separation technique using a reverse osmosis membrane is widely used for production of plain water by desalination of brine, seawater, or the like, production of ultrapure water, or the like. However, in accordance with continuance of the process, the permeation flux of the reverse osmosis membrane decreases, whereby the operation pressure rises. In this case, in order to restore the membrane performance, a process of stopping the operation and cleaning the reverse osmosis membrane will be needed.[0003]Conventionally, in the case of performing water processing by using a reverse osmosis membrane, in order to reduce the frequency of such membrane cleaning to enhance the processing efficiency, a method is carried out in which the supply water to t...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention relates to a membrane separation method and apparatus that can evaluate the supply liquid and monitor the problems such as scale generated in the reverse osmosis membrane in a more straightforward fashion. The method involves guiding the supply liquid and concentrated liquid to separate membranes for evaluation, and the membrane surfaces can be directly monitored. This allows for a more efficient operation management and a higher certainty and specificity of detection. The invention provides a more effective solution for membrane separation in water processing.

Problems solved by technology

However, when a problem such as scale is generated, for example, in this membrane separation apparatus, in order to detect this with certainty, a devise in the structure will be needed such as providing a structure in which the concentration polarization in the supply-side flow path is less liable to be generated in the submodule than in the main module, thereby raising a problem in that the certainty and specificity of detection are low.

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